Looking back on 2012, many could say that it was another average year. However, the further that I look, the more that I have trouble accepting that. There have been many things that made this year exceptionally great, or at very least interesting. One of the notable things is the output of movies, which weren't always successful, but often provided looks into an interesting future of cinema. The following is a week-long journey through the year in cinema and what made 2012 a great year for movies.
61. Sleepwalk with Me
Mike Birbiglia's directorial debut is a wonderment to what a very personal story about life, career, and sleep disorders can do to a human in humorous, honest ways. With an array of brilliant cameos by modern alternative comic legends, this film is the definitive character study on comedians of the year.
62. Lawless
This western looks at the bootlegging market and turns Guy Pearce into the fiercest man in the west to not have eyebrows. This movie is also notable for turning Shia LeBouf into a whipping boy for an entire scene, thus fulfilling many people's fantasies after having to sit through three Transformers movies.
63. Detropia
A documentary that looks at the struggling economy of Detroit, Michigan and brings the information full and hard. Another hard hitting documentary in a year of hard hitting documentaries.
64. Anna Karenina
Director Joe Wright returns to classic literature with his adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy classic with extravagant results, including a breathtaking score by Dario Marianelli and an equally captivating performance by Keira Knightley. It brings romance and class to a place of complexity and reminds us why Wright is one of the few people who can find the important nuances in tales that have been done to death.
65. Beauty is Embarrassing
A documentary that looks at the great outsider art that made Pee-Wee's Playhouse the iconic success that it was. This look into how deviant pop culture became the norm is an interesting look into how passion can sometimes pay off.
66. Arbitrage
This highly acclaimed performance by Richard Gere proves that the actor is not quite done with interesting roles just yet. It was so good that up until the other nominees began showing up, he was considered for an Oscar.
67. The Master
Director Paul Thomas Anderson returns with a vengeance, delivering a career-defining performance by Joaquin Phoenix and an equally ambiguous, often frustrating narrative that proves why his challenging films are often the best. Very few American films can even compete with the level of ingenuity going on in this film.
68. End of Watch
This semi-found footage film puts Michael Pena back into serious mode and gives us reason to care about Jake Gyllenhaal with a crime story that is as gripping as it is original. Very few films capture the chemistry and fun that is done by the two leads in this film.
69. How to Survive a Plague
A movie that explores the origin of AIDS is one of the most compelling, heartfelt stories of the year that brings the taboo subject to fruition. It doesn't skimp on the facts and provides light and knowledge for those who have been affected by the disease.
70. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
It has been awhile since a film came out that spoke to a particular demographic of high school misfits that wanted to be loved. Somehow this film found that niche audience and became a sleeper hit that will probably join the modern pantheon of high school comedies worth remembering by a small demographic.
71. Looper
Director Rian Johnson finally makes a name for himself with this impressive time travelling movie that reassesses the rules and turns Joseph Gordon Levitt into the hero that we need. Hopefully this is the start of Johnson's rise to credibility, as he seems to be capable of handling complex, interesting subject matter that others would never pay attention to.
72. Frankenweenie
Director Tim Burton returns to animation with this adaptation of his classic short film in which a boy puts together a dog and all havoc ensues. It may not be as good as Paranorman, but it has gotten people to believe that Burton is capable of coming up with good concepts now and then.
73. Pitch Perfect
The Capella version of Bring It On sees Anna Kendrick and a cast of singers skewer the modern hits into catchy, original compositions with plenty of wit and humor surrounding the results. It is probably the most fun that a version of a story based around singing has seen in awhile.
74. The Comedy
Tim Heidecker skewers the brooding rich man character to death in this brilliantly understated film that somehow is itself both a parody and a loving homage. At very least, it proves that Heidecker is the most capable between Tim and Eric to break out as a competent actor.
75. The Paperboy
Continuing Matthew McConaughey's turnaround year is this film that sees the Precious director follow-up his unanimous hit with a trashy tale that features plenty of people urinating on each other. It is an attempt to change everyone's image, but at very least it wasn't a total waste as it got Naomi Watts a Golden Globe nomination.
76. Argo
Ben Affleck has proven himself to be a very competent director with this true story that sees gritty action scenes get mixed with plenty of raw wit. With an equally engaging ensemble cast, this is one of the first films that unanimously should be considered for Best Picture at the Oscars.
77. Seven Psychopaths
The follow-up to In Bruges is this meta comedy that looks at seven mentally challenged people as they try and find a missing shiatsu and finish writing a screenplay. Christopher Walken is his typical self in top form in a movie reeking of cleverness and fun with a superb choice of casting.
78. Smashed
Mary Elizabeth Winstead deserves an Oscar nomination for this small and grounded performance of a recovering alcoholic in this tragic, semi-funny tale that doesn't solve everything, but analyzes what causes it. Also notable is a brilliant turn by Aaron Paul and an equally fun Nick Offerman, whose awkward character almost makes the film better.
79. Holy Motors
Denis Lavant plays several characters in this movie that explores the weirder side of cinema and attempts to find the few cracks of originality still in the genre. I won't tell you anymore besides that it is one of the most amazing films of the year.
80. The Sessions
John Hawkes fights for that Oscar spot with a performance that has become critically acclaimed and turns the idea of a sex comedy with a deformed character at the center into one of the more heartfelt and earnest films of the year. It also proves that Hawkes is capable of acting in a solitary better position than most people are with their whole body.
Come back tomorrow for the next part in which we look at 81-100
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